Only logged in members can reply and interact with the post.
Join SimilarWorlds for FREE »

Okay a confession here ..

Like I said I am deeply inclined towards Buddhism although I am a hindu by birth .but as I skim through these religious scriptures of all faith ,I just think that though I may not support all views of say one religion ,but in every religion there is deep instructions on human values such as generosity ,mercy ,humanity ,love ,forgivenes self sacrifice ,controlling one 's temper ,etc.
While reading these I just think the world knows nothing about religions ,they dont even follow a percent of their religious teaching .
Because if you say you are christian by belief ,you wouldnt be hurling abuses on others ,
If you are a muslim by belief ,you wouldnt be hurting others
If you are a hindu by belief ,you wouldnt be hating others .
If you do sin, haraam ,or Paap you should call yourself a non believer .because atleast in that case your acts woulnt malign the religions .
Karl marx said once -
Religion has become the soul of soulless conditions,heart of the heartless world .the opium of the world .
This page is a permanent link to the reply below and its nested replies. See all post replies »
You're right about the vast majority of people not actually living by the precepts of their faiths, irrespective of what that faith is. Otherwise the world would be in a far better state.

This is one of the several reasons why I'm an atheist.
I dislike hypocrisy.
It seems far easier to live an ethical life when one has basic precepts that can adapt appropriately when face with moral dilemmas.


The lay teacher, Goenka, was a Hindu who taught straight Theravadin Buddism - specifically meditation exactly as it was taught by the Buddha. He was born a Hindu and remained so to his death. Because true Buddhism is not a religion, it is possible to believe in one and practice the Buddhist path without offending against any other faiths or precepts.
You can look him up here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S._N._Goenka

Goenka died a few years ago, but he left behind a large number of fully trained teachers teaching at over eighty centres around the world.

I've done two retreats at his centres and found them very useful.

My prefered technique alternates sitting and walking meditation - so for this reason, I prefer the method taught by Sayadaw U Janaka, and in particular by the monk Panya Varro at the Bodhi Tree Monastery near Dunoon in Australia.